Events In and Around Our Synod
Featured Events:
Congregational Leadership Academy
Mission: To equip lay leaders with the newest, freshest, best practices for using their God given gifts in service to the congregation.
 The role of pastor is complex and ever-changing. In a world where faith issues are too often drowned out by competing voices, pastors are ever more vital in community leadership and they must find ways to share the demands of ministry. The demands of ministry are complex; the gifts of laity are needed now more than ever. The Congregational Leadership Academy (CLA) equips lay people with knowledge and skills which will help others strengthen their walk of discipleship and leadership in the congregation.
The CLA is an opportunity to tap into congregation members with gifts for leadershipand offer them a place to come and learn how to use their gifts for the ministry of your congregation. One of our participants in the Evangelism Focus says it well: “I’ve learned so much and am excited to bring all of this back to my congregation!”
Who in your congregation could come? Who has the potential to become a leader in stewardship in your congregation? Who has shown an interest or gift in this area that could benefit from learning skills to help others become strong stewards? Who could you encourage to be a part of this important work? We strongly encourage you not to miss out on this great opportunity to equip the saints for the work of the baptized!
FAQs:
- Does the same congregational member attend all the focuses?
No. The CLA is designed to enhance specific gifts, so it is not the intention that the same person would enroll/participate in all four focuses (Evangelism, Stewardship, Education, and Worship). In fact, as the CLA moves forward, some of the focuses will run simultaneously! Over an extended period of years, it is feasible that one person could possibly participate in all four focuses, but that is not the framework under which the CLA was developed. Congregations are encouraged to see the CLA as an opportunity to engage multiple congregational members in growing their gifts. The more people enrolled from your congregation, the wider the benefit to your congregation.
- How much time is involved in each focus?
Each focus is made up of six sessions held on Saturdays (10 am – 4 pm) in the Knutson Campus Center (Morrie Jones Conference rooms) on the campus of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Because the CLA includes an action/reflection component, the classes are not held on consecutive Saturdays. Rather, participants attend class followed by a break (3+ weeks) as participants are engaged in specific assignments, practical experiences, and interaction with their peer cohort. Therefore, each focus spans roughly nine months.
- Where can I find more information about CLA?
You may download enrollment forms, recommendation forms, class schedules, and syllabi at http://www.eandsynod.org/discipleship/programs.htm#sessions
Email Rev. Keith Zeh, Director for Evangelical Mission zeh@cord.edu with any questions or need for additional information
CLA brochure [pdf]
Focut 1 Session 3 "Faith Story Sharing"
Begins: October 1, 2011
 CLA is about to launch, with a course offering on “Congregational Evangelism Leadership” for lay people. The Congregational Leadership Academy is being sponsored by the Eastern North Dakota Synod in partnership with the Northwestern Minnesota Synod and the Congregational and Synodical Mission unit of our ELCA.
We are pleased to announce this pilot session of a new and exciting opportunity for training lay leaders in both synods. The course on “Congregational Evangelism Leadership” begins June 11. For more information about CLA and this first course offering, see the materials below.
CLA Session 1 info and registration [pdf]
Focus 2 Session 1 "Stewardship Leader"
February 4, 2012*
Concordia College - Moorhead, MN
* PLEASE NOTE: Congregational Leadership Academy Focus 2: Stewardship Leader will launch on Saturday, February 4, from 10 am to 4 pm. These sessions will be held in the Knutson Campus Center (Morris Jones Conference rooms) on the campus of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.
Those lay leaders enrolling in this six Saturday session focus on stewardship will be the second wave of the baptized, called lay people being equipped for servant leadership.
CLA Session 2 enrollment form [pdf]
CLA Session 2 recommendation form [pdf]
School for Lay Ministry
"Word in Worship Provides Windows for the World"
February 10-11, 2012
Christ the King Lutheran Church - Moorhead, MN
"The life-giving pattern and text of the great tradition of Christian liturgy is really the Bible set to text, action and music. Our task as worshipers is to live more fully and prayerfully "between the lines" of the worship texts so they become an event of the Gospel for us. We will explore how our forms of worship have the "power to raise the dead" and "give new life." Participants will have the opportunity to discover and express how the various parts of the liturgy can give them a "lens" and "window" to see all of life in a new, deeper and life-changing way.
 Our presenter is Dr. Mons Teig, Professor Emeritus of Worship, Luther Seminary. Mons stresses that worship isn't simply our offering to God. "The liturgy is not just our work," he says, "it is first God's work on behalf of the world as proclaimed in Word and Sacrament. Or to put it another way—worship is God's 'I love you' to us and our 'I love you' to God."
Above all Mons believes that effective worship must be hospitable and welcoming.
We will gather at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Moorhead beginning with registration at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, and continue on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Bring your Bible, and insights and questions to share.
Cost is $50 per person. Contact Marsha at mhendric@cord.edu or 218-299-3019 to register.
Download flyer [PDF]
2012 Church Council Training Events
Walking Together Into God's Future
 Sunday, February 12, 2012
2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church - Franklin Lake, rural Pelican Rapids, MN
Sunday, February 19, 2012
2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Redeemer Lutheran Church - Thief River Falls, MN
Members of the synod pastoral staff will be offering brief presentations, leading into discussions of the following topics:
- Walking Together.... as we navigate change
- Walking Together.... as pastors and lay leaders
- Walking Together….in step (though not necessarily lock-step)
- Walking Together… with purpose
Please submit registrations for your congregation by Tuesday, February 7 for Pelican Rapids or Tuesday, February 14 for Thief River Falls.
Download registration form [PDF]
Download flyer [PDF]
Lay Ministry Class
Begins February 19, 2012
Third Sunday of each month
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Redeemer Lutheran Church - Thief River Falls, MN
 The Thief River Falls Lay Ministry Class is a group of 10 to 12 people (there's room for many more) who gather together once a month for an in-depth, seminary level, study of the Scriptures, our Lutheran heritage and theology and some of the practical aspects of serving the church (preaching, pastoral care). Prayerfully consider becoming a part of this group who will be starting or continuing such a venture on Sunday, February 19 to begin the study of Church History with Dr. Jim Nestingen, former professor of Church history at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
This is a five year course of study; participants may join in any year and complete the course after they have taken all five sessions. Session four begins February 19, 2012.
First Year:
Interpreting the Old Testament – Terrence Fretheim
Text: Reading the Old Testament – Lawrence Broadt
Second Year:
Interpreting the New Testament – David Rhoads
Text: New Testament Story – David Barr and Intro to the New Testament – David Rhoads
Third Year:
Systematic Theology – Walter Bouman
Text: Where God Meets Man – Gerhard Forde
Fourth Year:
Lutheran Heritage – James Nestingen
Text: Introduction to Lutheranism – Eric Gritsch
Fifth Year:
Sent to Preach – Richard A. Jensen
Text: Thinking in Story – Richard Jensen
Pastoral Care
Text: Christian Caregiving – Kenneth Haugk and Why I am Afraid to Tell You Who I Am – John Powell
These are video courses chosen from the Select Learning curriculum from the Division for Ministry, ELCA. The only cost to the participant is for books. Some of the above courses could apply for certification in the GIFTS program.
For more information, call Pastor Mark Helgeland at 218-681-3390.
Download flyer [PDF]
Re-rooting in God’s Mission:
A Missional Spiritual Discovery Journey for Congregations
Beginning February 25, 2012
Saturdays: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
(Location to be announced later)
 Re-rooting in God's Mission is a renewal journey and process for congregations seeking to move from maintenance to mission and from survival to striving. This is not a magic bullet, program or a project. Re-rooting in God's Mission is a process designed to unfold over an 18 to 24 month period of time. The process involves four or more Saturday equipping events throughout these months. These equipping events will revolve around listening to God through prayer, scripture, each other and our neighbors, and three key ingredients for congregational renewal:
- Discovering a shared purpose for participating in God's mission locally and beyond
- Willingness to change for the sake of the Gospel
- Shared leadership between pastor and congregational leaders
(A major study done by the ELCA research unit identified these three key ingredients for renewal)
This process of renewal seeks to engage and involve the whole congregation. It begins and continues with prayer and in-depth engagement with God's word. A team of at least four, including pastor, selected by the congregation and pastor, attend the training opportunities in order to be equipped to engage their congregation in a renewal process.
Teams attending can expect to:
- Be immersed in prayer and God's word
- Receive tools, best practices, resources, and be equipped to utilize and adapt them to their congregation's context
- Be accompanied by a coach throughout the whole journey
- Receive additional training as needed, tailored to specific issues along the way
Registration Deadline: February 10, 2012
Registration and questions: Pr Keith Zeh (218) 299-4447 or keith.zeh@elca.org
More information [PDF]
Spring Conference Gatherings
February 26, 2012
Conferences 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10
Mulitple locations
March 4, 2012
Conferences 3, 4, 5, 7
Mulitple locations
Make time to attend the Spring Conference Gatherings. There will be nominations received for voting members to 2013 Churchwide Assembly and Synod Council positions along with other important matters for discussion. Information will be updated as we receive it.
Download pdf for times and locations
Monkey Business: A First Third Dialogue on the Confirmation Process
February 27-29, 2012
5:00 p.m.(Monday) - 12:00 p.m. (Wednesday)
Luther Seminary and St. Anthony Park Church - St. Paul, MN
 "Monkey Business." That's what Martin Luther called the rite of confirmation. And the numbers of young people that the church is losing after, and possibly through, the confirmation process, are rising annually. Join us for this First Third Dialogue designed to both begin, as well as further, ongoing conversations about deep and adaptive change in our churches in confirmation preparation and the rite itself.
That's right, we're not going to be talking about curriculum. At all. You'll spend some time learning about the history and the theology of this rite that is so central to youth ministry in so many churches. You'll engage with the data about how it's going. But you'll spend most of your time in rich conversation about where and how to bring adaptive change to the discipleship of young people. You'll have the opportunity to set up support systems so that you can see the change through.
 AND when you register you'll be given a code that will allow your Pastor or Confirmation Director to join us either in person or online for the live streaming panel discussion wrap up on Wednesday Morning, February 29. We know that you know that change has to begin there.
This event is targeted for Pastors, Confirmation Directors and Confirmation Volunteers.
Presenters: Dr. Nancy Going and Dr. Hans Wiersma.
Cost: $150 early bird registration through January 31st; $175 regular registration.
HOUSING OPTIONS:
A limited number of spaces are available for on-campus guest housing. Please request a room through Luther Seminary here. Get the conference rate through Radisson Hotel Roseville by calling 651-367-3906 to reserve your room.
Register online...
More information...
31st Annual Rural Ministry Conference
Care, Share and Dare:
Courage in a Caring Community
March 4 – 6, 2012
Young Best Western Plus Hote - Dubuque, IA
 Register today for the 31st Annual Rural Ministry Conference. Where leaders in rural communities and congregations gather to gain insight and inspiration, to network and neighbor that our ministries might be strengthened and our opinions better informed.
New This Year!
Save $50 if you have been serving in a rural congregation for less than 5 years! We've also reduced the overall fee by $30.
Take Advantage of our Early Bird Rates:
Register now and save even more with Early Bird Registration!
- Early Bird Rates: Register by February 6, 2012: 1 person:$150, 2 or more: $130/person
- Standard Rates: Register by March 1, 2012: 1 person: $165, 2 or more: $145/person
Registration is limited to the first 200 people.
Register online today...
Conference Leaders & Speakers:
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Rev. Dr. Dwight Dubois
"Courage in the Country: Dying to Ourselves, For the Life of the World"
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Plenary Speakers:
Dennis Campbell; Dr. Kris Stache
Workshop Leaders:
Dwight Dubois; Jim La Doux; Ginger Anderson-Larson; Joan Fumetti Jim Ennis
Bible Study Leader:
Dr. Craig L. Nessan
More information:
Basic Parish Nurse / Faith Community Nurse Preparation Course
March 12-16, 2012
Luther Seminary - St. Paul, MN
(Register by Feb. 27)
May 14-18, 2012
Atonement Lutheran Church - Fargo, ND
(Register by Feb. 27)
June 4-8, 2012
Good Shepherd Community - Sauk Rapids, MN
(Register by May 21)
The primary teaching faculty include:
- Annette Langdon, RN, BS, MA
- Lu Vitalis, RN, MS
- Jean Bokinskie, RN, Ph.D.
In addition, there will be many presenters who have rich backgrounds in the areas of theological perspectives and spiritual care, as well as current issues in faith community/parish nursing practice.
Participants will have the opportunity to share in a service of healing, network with practicing parish nurses, and participate in a dedication service.
The program cost is $575 (includes resources, notebook and some meals for the week!) It is open to registered nurses interested in health and healing ministries. Please encourage nurses who would serve as excellent parish nurses to register for the upcoming basic faith community nurse/parish nurse preparation course offered by the Concordia College Parish Nurse Ministry program.
More information:
NWMN Synod Senior High Youth Gathering
(For grades 9-12)
March 31 – April 1, 2012
Young Life’s Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes, MN
More information...
Synod Theology Day
Faith & Science: Reflections on dinosaurs, galaxies and God
with Kenneth H. Olson
April 19, 2012
Kenneth H. Olson will share reflections on dinosaurs, galaxies and God. Olson is a Research Associate in Paleontology for The Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University. He is also an ordained ELCA pastor, having served congregations for 37 years. This event is being sponsored in partnership with Concordia College.
Details to follow.
NWMN Synod Assembly
May 11-12, 2012
More information...
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